The 13-14 May popular uprising and its brutal suppression by the government of President Islam Karimov should come as no surprise. Public anger and extreme frustration with the regime have been mounting for months, if not years, and the regime's reliance on brutality is well-known. For too long, however, the international community has ignored Karimov's abuses and the clear signs the country was headed for serious trouble.

On a warm Saturday in April in a remote desert town in Uzbekistan south of the Aral Sea, dozens of high school students gathered in a small classroom to learn about a growing scourge in Central Asia – trafficking in human beings – and how to keep from becoming victims.

Following massive demonstrations on Friday and Saturday in eastern Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch is concerned that the Uzbek government may again use excessive force against demonstrators and unleash a broader crackdown on peaceful protesters and dissidents.